HR 9021 2003
1	House Resolution
2	A resolution expressing solidarity with Israel in its
3	fight against terrorism.
4
5	WHEREAS, the ongoing threat of terrorism since September
6	11, 2001, has harmed the economies of Florida and the United
7	States, damaging tourism and travel among the states and
8	creating a negative economic atmosphere, hurting business and
9	producing job losses, and
10	WHEREAS, the ongoing threat of worldwide terrorism at home
11	and abroad has forced local, state, and federal resources in the
12	United States to be diverted from other critical domestic
13	programs for the purpose of enhancing public security, and
14	WHEREAS, the United States and Israel are now engaged in a
15	common struggle against terrorism and are on the front lines of
16	a conflict thrust upon them against their will, and
17	WHEREAS, hundreds of innocent Israelis and Palestinians
18	have died tragically in violence since September 2000, and
19	WHEREAS, Israel has lost nearly 700 innocent lives, which
20	as a percentage of population is commensurate with America's
21	losing over 30,000 lives in the terrorist attacks on New York
22	and Washington on September 11, 2001, and
23	WHEREAS, the ongoing violence has hurt the economies of
24	both Israel and the Palestinian territories, damaging tourism in
25	both regions, thereby creating a negative economic atmosphere
26	hurting business and producing job losses, and
27	WHEREAS, President George W. Bush declared at a joint
28	session of Congress on September 20, 2001, that "from this day
29	forward any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism
30	will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime," and
31	WHEREAS, President Bush recently stated that he "fully
32	understands Israel's need to defend herself" and that he
33	"respects" the fact that Israelis have "seen a wave of suicide
34	bombers coming to the heart of their cities and killing innocent
35	people," and
36	WHEREAS, Israel's military operations are an effort to
37	defend itself against the unspeakable horrors of ongoing
38	terrorism and are aimed only at dismantling the terrorist
39	infrastructure, and
40	WHEREAS, Israel has made clear its intention to withdraw
41	from Palestinian areas and has already begun to do so, NOW,
42	THEREFORE,
43
44	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
45	Florida:
46
47	That the House of Representatives:
48	(1) Stands in solidarity with Israel as it takes necessary
49	steps to provide security to its people by dismantling the
50	terrorist infrastructure;
51	(2) Remains committed to Israel's right to self-defense
52	and supports additional United States assistance to help Israel
53	defend itself;
54	(3) Condemns suicide bombings;
55	(4) Urges all Arab states to declare their unqualified
56	opposition to all forms of terrorism, particularly suicide
57	bombing;
58	(5) Commends the President for his leadership in
59	addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, particularly the
60	efforts of the Administration to engage countries throughout the
61	region to condemn and prevent terrorism and to prevent a
62	widening of the conflict;
63	(6) Urges all parties in the region to vigorously pursue
64	efforts to establish a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in
65	the Middle East; and
66	(7) Will work as an elected body to promote tourism,
67	economic trade, and cultural exchange with the State of Israel,
68	keeping relations healthy now and into the future for the
69	benefit of Florida and Israel.